Assistant Registrar

Role overview

The Waitangi Tribunal Unit in Wellington is looking for an Assistant Registrar to support the Tribunal’s core administrative and legal operations. The Waitangi Tribunal is a standing commission of inquiry that considers claims from Māori connected to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and occupies an important role within New Zealand’s constitutional system.

What this role involves

In this position, you will carry out registry and support tasks that help the Tribunal function smoothly, including handling claim registration, assisting with Legal Aid application reporting, and providing drafting support on legal and procedural matters.

Key duties

• Register claims and manage related registry processes.
• Prepare reports for Legal Aid applications.
• Support drafting work by offering assistance on legal and procedural issues.

What you need to bring

The Ministry is open to people with different backgrounds and encourages applicants who can add value even if they do not meet every requirement exactly.

• An LLB, or progress toward an LLB, is required.
• Working knowledge of Waitangi Tribunal jurisprudence is important.
• Experience engaging with Māori groups and organisations is needed.
• Strong capability in planning, organisation, and writing, especially in legal research, analysis, and critique, is expected.
• An understanding of Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori, or a willingness to build that knowledge, is desirable.
• Experience working with the judiciary and a commitment to further develop knowledge of Te Reo and Tikanga Māori will be an advantage.

About the Ministry

Te Tāhū o te Ture, the Ministry of Justice, is focused on building and maintaining public trust in the law of Aotearoa New Zealand. It aims to be an inclusive workplace that welcomes people of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disabilities, and religions.

Benefits

• 4.4 weeks of annual leave.
• Access to an online professional development platform.
• Connection to a range of inclusive and proactive networks.
• Opportunities to build a broad mix of skills and experience while progressing your career.

Salary

The salary range for this role is $74,634 to $100,846, depending on skills and experience.

How to apply

Applicants should submit a CV and cover letter through the organisation’s careers website. The position description can be reviewed there as well. Applications close on 28 June 2026, but candidates may be shortlisted and invited to interview before the closing date. For questions, email recruitment@justice.govt.nz and include “MOJ XXX” in the subject line.

Additional information

This is a permanent commission-related role based in Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. The listing does not state a fixed number of openings, and the job is onsite.